Kill a Word

"Kill a Word"
Single by Eric Church featuring Rhiannon Giddens
from the album Mr. Misunderstood
Released August 29, 2016 (2016-08-29)
Format Digital download
Genre Country
Length 3:20
Label EMI Nasvhille
Songwriter(s)
  • Eric Church
  • Luke Dick
  • Jeff Hyde
Producer(s) Jay Joyce
Eric Church singles chronology
"Record Year"
(2016)		 "Kill a Word"
(2016)		 "Round Here Buzz"
(2017)

"Record Year"
(2016)		 "Kill a Word"
(2016)		 "Round Here Buzz"
(2017)
Rhiannon Giddens singles chronology
"Lay Your Money Down"
(2012) Lay Your Money Down2012		 "Kill a Word"
(2016) Kill a Word2016		 "Come Sunday"
(2016) Come Sunday2016

"Kill a Word" is a song co-written and recorded by American country music artist Eric Church as a duet with American musician Rhiannon Giddens. It was released in August 2016 as the third single from Church's 2015 album Mr. Misunderstood. Church wrote this song with Luke Dick and Jeff Hyde.

Content

The song is about the power and importance of words, and wanting to "kill" words with negative meanings, such as "hate."[1][2] The album version features Andrea Davidson and Rhiannon Giddens, the latter a member of the Carolina Chocolate Drops, on backing vocals. For the single edit, Giddens sings some lines of the song by herself.

Church told Rolling Stone that the 2016 presidential election was influential in picking "Kill a Word" as a single: "I would have regretted not putting out 'Kill a Word,' and let this season pass, not knowing if I would get a chance again where it was this relevant, this timely."[3]

Music video

The music video was directed by Shaun Silva and premiered on CMT, GAC, and Vevo in 2016.

Critical reception

Billy Dukes of Taste of Country wrote that "Soulful production and the addition of Rhiannon Giddens gives [sic] a more casual listener something to enjoy if he or she chooses not to dive into Church’s statement."[2] Giving it an "A", Kevin John Coyne of Country Universe wrote that "Songs that aim for utopia usually stumble along the way because they are either too preachy or too woefully naive. Church avoids this trap by zeroing in on the obstacles rather than the goal, and personalizes the proceedings by tackling what gets in the way of individual pursuit of happiness."[4]

Church and Giddens were nominated for Musical Event of the Year at the 51st Annual Country Music Association Awards in 2017.

Commercial performance

The song debuted on the Country Airplay chart at No. 58 for the chart dated September 10, 2016, and entered the Hot Country Songs chart three weeks later at No. 41.[5][6] The song has sold 194,000 copies in the United States as of March 2017.[7]

Covers

The band No Idea released a new version of the song as the B-side to their single, "Reduced to Flames". The song featured the entire lyrics from the original song, but with heavy metal music.

Chart performance

Weekly charts

Chart (2016–17) Peak
position
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[8] 71
Canada Country (Billboard)[9] 5
US Billboard Hot 100[10] 71
US Country Airplay (Billboard)[11] 6
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[12] 9

Year-end charts

Chart (2017) Position
Canada Country (Billboard)[13] 17
US Country Airplay (Billboard)[14] 36
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[15] 48

References

  1. ↑ Horton, Carrie (September 1, 2016). "Hear Eric Church's 'Relevant', 'Timely' New Single, 'Kill a Word'". The Boot. Retrieved 30 October 2016.
  2. 1 2 Dukes, Billy (September 1, 2016). "Eric Church (Feat. Rhiannon Giddens), 'Kill a Word' [Listen]". Taste of Country. Retrieved 30 October 2016.
  3. ↑ Hudak, Joseph (August 23, 2016). "See Eric Church's Thought-Provoking 'Kill a Word' From Amazing Solo Show". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 30 October 2016.
  4. ↑ Coyne, Kevin John (September 28, 2016). "Single Review: Eric Church featuring Rhiannon Giddens, "Kill a Word"". Country Universe. Retrieved 30 October 2016.
  5. ↑ "Hot Country Songs". Billboard. October 1, 2016.
  6. ↑ "Country Airplay". Billboard. September 10, 2016.
  7. ↑ Bjorke, Matt (March 22, 2017). "Top 30 Digital Single Sales Chart: March 22, 2017". Roughstock.
  8. ↑ "Eric Church Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved January 10, 2017.
  9. ↑ "Eric Church Chart History (Canada Country)". Billboard. Retrieved December 30, 2016.
  10. ↑ "Eric Church Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved January 31, 2017.
  11. ↑ "Eric Church Chart History (Country Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved March 21, 2017.
  12. ↑ "Eric Church Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved February 28, 2017.
  13. ↑ "Billboard Canada Year-End Country Airplay of 2017". Billboard. Retrieved December 31, 2017.
  14. ↑ "Country Airplay Songs – Year-End 2017". Billboard. Retrieved December 18, 2017.
  15. ↑ "Hot Country Songs – Year-End 2017". Billboard. Retrieved December 18, 2017.
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